Davie St. rainbow crosswalks get fresh coat of paint

The City of Vancouver’s work on the new Jim Deva Plaza at Davie and Bute in the West End is nearly complete.

Part of Bute Street, south of Davie has been turned into a pedestrian plaza with new patio space in front of the existing businesses. The former cul-de-sac on Bute has been re-opened at Burnaby Street providing access to the alley.

In addition to the new plaza, the rainbow crosswalk on Davie has been repainted in bright vibrant rainbow colours just in time for Pride on the BC Day long weekend.

There are still more improvements to the plaza to come, including an overhead lighting fixture suspended above Davie and Bute, as well as a new mid-block pedestrian crossing in front of the Shoppers Drug Mart on Davie.

The project cost $2.3 million, and the plaza is named after the late Jim Deva, who died after he fell from a ladder while trimming trees outside his West End home in 2014. Deva owned the Little Sisters bookshop on Davie Street, a popular space for the Vancouver LGBTQ community.

The new Jim Deva Plaza at Bute and Davie should be open in time for Vancouver Pride 2016.The new Jim Deva Plaza at Bute and Davie should be open in time for Vancouver Pride 2016.The rainbow crosswalk at Davie and Bute in Vancouver’s West End has been freshly repainted, just in time for Pride.